“All-American Road” Route 12 is the Most Legendary Road Trip You Can Take in 2025
Route 12 earned its All-American Road status in 2002 because it tells uniquely American stories. The road traces paths where Mormon pioneers carved steps into cliffs to move their wagons in the 1800s.
Your Route 12 journey begins at Bryce Canyon's orange hoodoos at 7,500 feet elevation. These rock spires formed over millions of years as water and ice cracked the limestone. The largest hoodoo stands 150 feet tall.
Bryce Canyon's 18-mile drive takes you past massive amphitheaters filled with thousands of orange rock spires. Capitol Reef National Park features the 100-mile Waterpocket Fold, where pioneers used water pockets to cross this harsh terrain.
The Grand Staircase-Escalante along Route 12 reveals a 200 million-year geologic timeline. You'll see five different colored cliffs stepping down over 40 miles.
Grand Staircase-Escalante spans 1.87 million acres of canyons, arches, and rock formations. The monument gets its name from a series of cliffs that step down like a giant staircase revealing a different colored rock layer.
Head of the Rocks Overlook at mile 69 sits atop a massive slickrock dome offering 360-degree views across millions of acres.
Lower Calf Creek Falls Trail leads 3 miles to a 126-foot waterfall hidden in the desert. It passes by ancient Fremont pictographs, great for a quick pullover. You can even join a guided tour to experience the Fremont village life.